Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda has been finally sentenced on 3 March 2011 to five months' imprisonment for a solidarity statement for Israeli conscientious objectors Itzik Shabbat and Amir Pastar on 1 August 2006.

Halil Savda was initially sentenced on 2 June 2008 by the Sultanahmet 1st Court of First Instance in Istanbul to five months' imprisonment for the press statement (see Bianet, 3 June 2008), but appealed against the sentence. This sentence was now
upheld and finalised by the Court of Appeals.

Various institutions and committees released a press statement to protest
the prison sentences handed down to Halil Savda and other conscientious
objectors. Savda's sentence was upheld and finalized by the Court of Appeals,
Bianet reported on 4 March 2011.

In June 2010, Halil Savda was sentenced in a similar case - a statement in support of then imprisoned
Turkish conscientious objector Enver Aydemir - to six months' imprisonment, together with three co-defendants (see Bianet 18 June 2010). An appeal against this sentence is still pending.

Article 318 of the Turkish Penal Code represents an unfair limitation of the right to freedom of expression in Turkey, and is considered to be in direct breach of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protect the right to freedom of expression and to which Turkey is a state party.

More information on Article 318 is available at http://www.wri-irg.org/node/3554
.
War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to the Turkish authorities, and Turkish embassies abroad.

Sunday

“Everywhere you look today there’s a story about Charley (effing) Sheen.”

Yes, that is the the lead line in the story (Under the title of "community news") titled:

Charlie Sheen Doesn't Need 12 Step Recovery

And Says You Don't Either

Many people whose lives have been saved by twelve steps have taken offense to the distasteful way Mr. Sheen quoted (or should I say “misquoted”) out of one of the most recognizable recovery text available around the world. For some it may have felt as if their holiest books had been tossed aside.

But this wasn't the Talmud, the K'oran, or the Bible. It was the Big Book.

Why all the anger and confusion, you ask? I personally know many people whose lives are completely changed by following the twelve steps and twelve traditions of whatever fellowship we find fits us the best. So I get the idea that throwing a book away is really tough to see.

However, these are simply texts written many years ago to help the addict to stay clean.

I am unwilling to depart with my grey form - the precursor to the NA Basic Text. I have shared in many a study hours about the roots of our literature; and been involved with more engaging discussions than I care to mention. But the truth is that the words do make a difference in our lives.

However the actions of recovery speak louder than even Charlie Sheen in a manic state can destroy.

Threatened by someone trashing the steps? Then practice the spiritual principles that the steps and traditions should be teaching you.

Love thy neighbor. Know that there's always going to be a copy of your book available to you. And remember the cliche - there but for the grace of .....

The "ridiculous" shows you talk about are the very ones that got me back on the right track after a relapse, and if I remember correctly ITR embraced the interventionists when they got involved with this website.

That said: When Rush Limbaugh admitted his addiction, it was a bit issue with me and the progressive community I am involved with. He is one of my family now. As is said about many situations in the free world "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to my death your right to say it."

This situation is much more critical than many others. He is dying before our very eyes. I pray that his family gets him on a course of intervention and pray that he finds recovery before he dies.

It's scary watching our own disease manifest itself so loudly and blatantly in front of us, but if you remember THAT IS THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION TALKING and if you think it's gone from your thinking, just look at how disgusted you are about it being everywhere. One finger pointing out leaves three pointing back at you.

Since you took the opportunity to put yourself first and list your accomplishments in the article, I might just say that the article appears to be filled with addictive thinking and that isn't just quoting Charlie Sheen. Who did the photoshopping of the picture? Would you do this with any other family member who desperately needs to get in the rooms of a twelve step fellowship?

When I pray for the sick and suffering addict, I pray for that addict without concern for their social status or wealth, their drug of choice or whether they are living under a bridge or have a bridge named after them.

Anonymity means (among other things) that we are all of one mind, we are all the same, there is no distinction. Principles before personalities comes to mind LOUDLY HERE. You are me and she is we and they are us and WE ARE ALL TOGETHER.

Prayer to all addicts who are still suffering and thank you Craig Ferguson who comes out and says "I won't tell any jokes about people struggling with addiction. It's life and death." Celebrity or not, left or right, regardless of age race creed sexual identity religion or lack of religion -- you are my family.

I live in a world where "when one of us is in pain, we all feel the ramifications of that pain" -- I might be a stranger to you but I will stand up for your right to do whatever it takes to find recovery. God bless family, friends, loved ones and most of all, the addict. Pray Them Up In These Rooms.

I personally keep them on my prayer list (even Limbaugh) cuz I know that tradition TWELVE is one of the most important ones in the book (besides the other eleven). love and respect,